Ghosts
As Risa Harada walked down the empty hallway, she could have sworn that she had heard someone singing. She shook it away, becoming a little frightened. The sun was setting, casting a beautiful, but creepy glow across the empty hallway. It made her feel like the only person in the world, in comparison to the only person in the school. She had stayed after just to make up an exam, but had finished later then intended.
So she was all by her lonesome self... not even a teacher in sight.
She gasped and stopped walking as she heard a noise. This time, it sounded like a piano. A beautiful, mesmerizing melody played throughout the halls. It was almost... ghost-like. Then came a voice:
"Lights go out and I can't be saved... tides that I tried to swim against... brought me down upon my knees... Oh I beg, I beg and plead. Singing, come out if things aren't said, shoot an apple off my head... And a, trouble that can't be named, tigers waiting to be tamed."
In no way was the male singing a good singer, but the words were so odd and intriguing. Quickly, Risa began walking, looking around for the Ghost Piano Man.
"Sining, yoooooooooooo ohhhhhh. Yoooooooooooo ohhhhhh..."
She shivered at the strange wail. Whoever this person (or ghost) was, he was in pain. As she turned a corner, Risa knew that she was getting closer. She approached the music wing, her heart beating. The voice came again:
"Confusion never stops. Closing walls and ticking clocks. Gonna, come back and take you home, I could not stop that you now know. Singing, come out upon my seas. Curse missed opportunities. Am I, a part of the cure, or am I part of the disease?"
The first thing she saw when she stood in the doorway were hands. As fingers struck black and white keys, her eyes ran up to an arm... a neck... and weary blue eyes that were almost hidden by glasses. Satoshi Hiwatari ran a hand through his hair, playing with only one hand for a moment, then sighed and returned to playing normally. If there was more to the song, he did not sing it, but instead hummed the tune and continued playing the ghostly melody.
He looked so... tired.
"H-Hiwatari-kun?"
Immediately, the music stopped, leaving the atmosphere suddenly and eerily silent. The young man stared at her, surprised. He managed to look away, clear his throat, and murmur, "Hello, Harada-san."
Swallowing hard, Risa voiced out, "... It was beautiful." She mustered up probably the last of her strength, walked over and sat down on the bench. Satoshi stiffened, but relaxed when she asked, "Can you play more of it?"
He gave her a mixed look of relief and appreciation. He half shrugged, half nodded, and flexed his fingers before continuing the song. Music filled the empty room, making a small, happy smile spread across Risa's face.
Most ghosts want revenge, a lost love, or possibly to cause terror. Not this ghost, Risa realized. He only wanted one thing: To be understood. Watching Satoshi play the piano and sing along, Risa was pretty sure that she had granted that wish.
"Home, home, where I wanted to go. Home, home, where I wanted to go..."